Guest Author Jan Sikes: Inspiration in Difficult Times

Please welcome Jan Sikes! Jan has written several award-winning stories based on her own life experiences with her husband Rick Sikes. James Richard “Rick” Sikes was born in Texas and at a young age fell in love with writing and performing music.

Here’s a fantastic article/interview from 2001 that you should definitely check out: Outlaw Country from Texas Monthly. He made some poor choices that led him down a path that would forever change his future. But I’ll let Jan tell you more while she talks about one of the inspiring books she’s compiled that highlights the beautiful things that came out of his life:

Discovery

Jan Sikes:

What makes this poetry and art book different from thousands of others in print?

It was written entirely by hand behind the walls of Leavenworth Prison over a span of fifteen years.

The artwork is made up of millions of tiny dots, known as Pointillism. I prefer to think of it as Rick Sikes’ own unique brand.

Rick Sikes had spent a lifetime writing and making music. When a bad decision landed him in Leavenworth prison with a 75 year sentence, he had to do a lot of soul-searching. Part of that process is found within the words of his poetry and the pen-and-ink drawings on the pages of DISCOVERY. It was his hope that he could be an inspiration to others facing difficult times.

Rick passed away in 2009. I am consumed with a burning passion to continue sharing his legacy and DISCOVERY is part of that.

Below you’ll find a sampling of his art and poetry. I hope you enjoy it!

The artwork is sprinkled among the poems. Here is an excerpt from the poem entitled Discovery:

Through life’s wilderness I wandered aimlessly seeking my way

Seldom looking up to see the light of day

Stumbling blindly, ‘til so weary, I could go no more

In total exhaustion I fell to the earthen floor

My eyes focused upon a wounded but lovely thing

Seemingly an angel felled with a broken wing

Said I, “Stranger, what will be your name?”

A voice spoke softly, “Yours, for our names are the same.”

I replied angrily, “That cannot be.”

In understanding the voice spoke again, “Look and you shall see.”

“What song do you sing?” I asked, as I drew nearer

“Your song my friend, listen and you shall hear.”

“You know me?” said I, as the sweet melody began to flow.

“From the very first,” the voice whispered. “ Yes, you I know…”

This poetry book has everything from deep thought-provoking poems to humorous and quirky pieces.

Here is an excerpt from: The Title is too Damned Long or (When Aunt Bessie Rode a Bike to the Belly Dancer’s Ball)

Here is a story of a gal with gall

It happened a year ago this fall

When Aunt Bessie rode a bike

To the belly-dancers ball

Aunt Bessie is past sixty-nine

Full of spark, feeling fine

She walked from the farm

A ten mile hike in pouring rain

Just in time to miss the train

She was mad as hell and soaking wet

But swore by heaven, she’d get there yet

She said, “It’s better late, than not at all

I’ll get there, if I have to crawl

This is gonna be a helluva dance

I ain’t gonna’ miss my chance.”

It’s no place for a red-neck square

Roarin’Twenties hoochy-gals gathering there

Aunt Bessie was hitching just out of L.A.

Flipper skirt flapping, she thumbed on the freeway

Fifty bikers pulled up and asked, “You goin’ our way?”

Auntie Bessie said, “You got it. This must be my day…”

I invite you to take a closer look at this book and if it interests you, or you can think of anyone who might benefit from the inspiration of a man who found a way to be and do positive in a dark and negative situation, please pick it up!

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Rachael Ritchey is a dreamer who believes in the resilience of the human spirit. She never wants to forget we are not what has happened to us or what we've done. She believes we are deep wells of compassion and strength, and when unleashed, these subtle super powers can change the world, even if only just one person at a time.
Rachael writes with an eye toward exemplifying these attributes. Her clean but real and true-to-self YA fiction reflects these qualities with daring adventure and sweet romance that almost anyone can enjoy. Rachael lives in Spokane, WA with her husband, kids, and their dog named Hashtag.